“Nay, colonel sahib bahadur—­thy blood on my head!  I go with thee —­into hell and out beyond if need be!”

“You fellows agreeable?” asked Monty.  “There is no disputing Kagig’s decision.  We’re at his mercy.”

“We’ve got to find Miss Vanderman!” said Will.

“You are not at my mercy, effendi,” grumbled Kagig.  The man was obviously distressed.  “You are rather at my discretion.  I am responsible.  For my nation’s sake and for my honor I dare not lose you.  Who has not seen how a cow will follow the calf in a wagon?  So in your case, if I hold the one—­the chief one—­the noble one—­the lord—­the cousin of the Eenglis king” (Monty’s rank was mounting like mercury in a tube as Kagig warmed to the argument) —­“you others will certainly hunt him up-hill and down-dale.  Thus will my honor and my country’s cause both profit!”

Monty smiled benignantly.

“It’s all one, Kagig.  Why labor the point?  I’m going with you. 
Rustum Khan prefers to come with me.”  Kagig looked askance at Rustum
Khan, but made no comment.  “One hostage is enough for your purpose. 
Let me talk with my friends a minute.”

Kagig nodded, and we four drew aside.

“Now,” demanded Fred, who knew the signs, “what special quixotry do you mean springing?”

“Shut up, Fred. There’s no need for you fellows to follow Kagig another yard.  He’ll be quite satisfied if he has me in keeping.  That will serve all practical purposes.  What you three must do is find Miss Vanderman if you can, and take her back to Tarsus.  There you can help the consul bring pressure to bear on the authorities.”

“Rot!” retorted Fred.  “Didums, you’re drunk.  Where did you get the drink?”

Monty smiled, for he held a card that could out-trump our best one, and he knew it.  In fact he led it straight away.

“D’you mean to say you’d consider it decent to find that young woman in the mountains and drag her to Zeitoon at Kagig’s tail, when Tarsus is not more than three days’ ride away at most?  You know the Turks wouldn’t dare touch you on the road to the coast.”

“For that matter,” said Fred, “the Turks ’ud hardly dare touch Miss Vanderman herself.”

“Then leave her in the hills!” grinned Monty.  “Kagig tells me that the Kurds are riding down in hundreds from Kaisarich way.  He says they’ll arrive too late to loot the cities, but they’re experts at hunting along the mountain range.  Why not leave the lady to the tender ministrations of the Kurds!”

“One ’ud think you and Kagig knew of buried treasure!  Or has he promised to make you Duke of Zeitoon?” asked Will.  “Tisn’t right, Monty.  You’ve no call to force our band in this way.”

“Name a better way,” said Monty.

None of us could.  The proposal was perfectly logical.

Three of us, even supposing Kagig should care to lend us some of his Zeitoonli horsemen, would be all too few for the rescue work.  Certainly we could not leave a lady unprotected in these hills, with the threat of plundering Kurds overhanging.  If we found her we could hardly carry her off up-country if there were any safer course.